Tina's profile

397 ratings | 176 reviews
avg rating: 3.74

Tina's bookshelves

read (397)
currently-reading (2)
to-read (57)
romance (134)
sci-fi-fantasy (103)
mystery (62)

paranormal (42)
graphic-novel (31)
fiction-general (17)
horror (9)
thiller-suspense (9)
childrens-books---picture (8)

film-theory-history (8)
nonfiction-general (7)
erotica (5)
non-fiction-biography (5)
reference (5)
classics (4)

fiction-historical (2)
true-crime (2)
memoir (1)

cloud shelves | see all bookshelves »

Tina is currently reading

	08/20 Tina is currently reading: Deep In The Valley (Grace Valley Trilogy, Book #1) by Robyn Carr bookshelves: currently-reading, romance	my rating:
	add a comment
	08/14 Tina is currently reading: Fools Rush In (Mass Market Paperback) by Kristan Higgins bookshelves: currently-reading, romance	my rating:
	add a comment

Tina's recent updates (rss)

August 20

Tina is currently reading:
Deep In The Valley (Grace Valley Trilogy, Book #1)
by Robyn Carr
bookshelves: currently-reading, romance

my rating:

add a comment

Tina made a comment in the group Movies We've Just Watched—Guess this movie!!! topic:

Tina wrote: "The Green Mile? "

August 18

Tina made a comment in the group Movies We've Just Watched—Does anyone AVOID movies because of who's in it? topic:

Tina wrote: "I need to add Katherine Heigl to the list. Can't stand her.

I actually go through periods where if...more "

Tina gave

to:
A Fatal Waltz (Hardcover)
by Tasha Alexander
bookshelves: mystery

my rating:

read in August, 2008

Tina said: "Lady Emily Ashton and her fiance the dashing Colin Hargreaves are invited to a shooting party at the home of a very influential member of the government, Lord Fortescue.

Lord Fortescue has taken a strong dislike to Lady Emily and makes it clear ...more Lady Emily Ashton and her fiance the dashing Colin Hargreaves are invited to a shooting party at the home of a very influential member of the government, Lord Fortescue.

Lord Fortescue has taken a strong dislike to Lady Emily and makes it clear that he plans to sabotage any plans she has of actually getting Hargreaves to the altar. To that end, he has also invited the alluring Countess Von Lange. Emily learns to her chagrin that the lovely Countess is an old love of Colin's who shares his talent at intrigue and spying. The countess herself falls right within Fortescue's plan to try and sabotage Emily and Colin.

However, the party takes a fatal turn when Fortescue is shot dead and Emily's friend Robert Brandon is arrested for the murder. In the aftermath, things do not look good for Brandon as all the evidence (circumstantial though it is) point to his guilt. Brandon, knowing that Emily has a knack at detection, implores her to help prove his innocence. He is convinced that the truth lies in Vienna.

So Emily with her friend Jeremy, The Duke of Bainbridge, and Cecile Du Lac departs to Vienna. While there Emily plunges into Vienna society both high and low. She meets Gustav Klimt and Empress Elisabeth. She also frequents coffee houses and has dangerous encounters with anarchists and assassins. In the course she manages to uncover a series of facts and motivations that lead to the real killer.

I was so stoked when I noticed that this was out, but as I was reading it, it simply couldn't keep my attention. I wasn't totally thrilled with this one.

One the good side, Tasha Alexander creates a great atmosphere both in Victorian England and in Vienna. Set while the Mayerling incident is still fresh in people's minds, Alexander makes great use of that historical scandal.

Also, Emily and Colin are a great couple. Alexander does a great job of conveying carnal longing in a very genteel manner. Very in keeping with her time, place and her characters.

So while the romance element, the atmosphere and the characters made for good reading, the mystery element was a curious let down. The actual investigation into the murder was incredibly anemic. It felt like Emily simply took in the sights of Vienna and met with people who simply told her things. There was no real deduction involved.

so I can't say I was as delighted with this one as I was with the other two of the series. I still thin Tasha Alexander is a fine writer and still look forward to the next in the series....less "

add a comment

Tina gave

to:
Over the Edge (Troubleshooters Series, Book #3)
by Suzanne Brockmann
bookshelves: romance

my rating:

Tina said: "Sr. Chief Stan Wolchonok, SEAL team 16's own Mr. Fix-It, witnesses Teri Howe (one of the best pilots in the Naval Reserves) being sexually harassed and wonders why she doesn't deck the guy? It turns out, Teri has a problem with assertiveness. So St...more Sr. Chief Stan Wolchonok, SEAL team 16's own Mr. Fix-It, witnesses Teri Howe (one of the best pilots in the Naval Reserves) being sexually harassed and wonders why she doesn't deck the guy? It turns out, Teri has a problem with assertiveness. So Stan takes it upon himself to work with Teri on assertiveness training. And even though he is madly in love/lust with her himself, he also undertakes to fix her up with a nice young man who can treat her well.

In the meantime, a group of terrorists, hijack a commercial airliner bound for Greece and instead force it to land in Kazbekistan. On the plane is Gina Vitagliano who becomes the one hostage through whom the terrorists communicate.

SEAL team 16 are deployed to rescue the hostages, with Sam Starrett running the op. The FBI sends in Max Baghat and his team, which includes Alyssa Locke, to either negotiate the safe release or stall the terrorists long enough for Sam and his team to rescue.

While in the steaming, hostile country affectionately called The Pit, Stan and Teri connect, Sam and Alyssa write another chapter in their stormy love story, Max and Gina are introduced and we learn a little back history about a WWII holocaust survivor.

This is one of my very favorite of the Troubleshooter series.

Stan/Teri: The main story of Stan and Teri is wonderful. Stan is not alpha dog material like Sam, but he still make a great hero. I love his inner dialogue about his feelings for Teri. Brockmann gives their story a light comic touch with Stan's attempts to set Teri up with the clueless Mike Muldoon while trying to suppress his own feelings for her. But she also tempers it with some gravitas when she allows Teri to open up to Stan about her past and why she has problems asserting herself.

Sam/Alyssa: This made my heart break. I can't deny that Sam and Alyssa's little dance is delicious to watch. The two of them spar words and snipe at each other and it doesn't seem contrived or cliche. This is because Brockmann has very clearly let the reader know that Sam and Alyssa's sniping is only "on" when they are in front of each other. Apart, the two of them are miserable in love. And then, when it looks like we are finally gonna get our happy ending -- BAM! something comes out of left field that makes it all kaput. That least scene with Alyssa all giddy and dressed up for Sam made me so sad. But in a weird way it crystallized my absolute love for Sam Starrett. Is his own macho asshole way, he is a wonderful, honorable man.

The Hijacking: As a main storyline this one can't be beat. We meet Gina for the first time. We delve into the character of Max. This is the nascent period of Brockmann's the second great long running romance arc, Max & Gina. I loved the scenes of the SEAL team as they drill tirelessly to board the plane using Alyssa, Jules and Teri as stand in terrorists. Sam's frustration at having to wait for the go ahead to board is palpable and his artistic and multiple uses of the word 'Fuck' is absolutely Homeric.

The WWII storyline: This was my least favorite of all the WWII storylines that pepper the series. I wasn't really involved in Helga's story very much. But I think that Brockmann did a great job in showing the character's confusion and disorientation as she begins showing the signs of Alzheimer's.

Excellent book. Highly recommended!!...less "

add a comment

Tina gave

to:
Raine: The Lords of Satyr (Book #2)
by Elizabeth Amber
bookshelves: erotica

my rating:

Tina said: "awful "

add a comment

August 16

Tina gave

to:
Sex, Murder And A Double Latte (Red Dress Ink)
by Kyra Davis
bookshelves: mystery

my rating:

add a comment

Tina marked as to-read:
Suddenly You (Indigo)
by Crystal Hubbard
bookshelves: to-read

my rating:

add a comment

August 18

Tina marked as to-read:
Mr. Fix-It (Indigo Love Spectrum)
by Crystal Hubbard
bookshelves: to-read

my rating:

add a comment

August 15

Tina made a comment in the group Movies We've Just Watched—Documentaries topic:

Tina wrote: "My absolute favorite is Paris Is Burning Fierce, fab and a little sad. The Black and Latino ...more "

see all 397 of Tina's books »

Tina's favorite quotes

"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying."
— Oscar Wilde

tags: intelligence, self-deprication

1499 people liked it

""Don't burn your bridges, unless you are sure you can part the water"
"
— Norman Wilson in 'The Wire'

tags: the-wire

1 person liked it

"If the gods are fucking you, you find a way to fuck them back. It's Baltimore, gentlemen; the gods will not save you.
"
— Commissioner Burrell in 'The Wire'

tags: the-wire

1 person liked it

Tina's groups (recent posts)

TV We've Just Watched — 127 members — last activity 2 minutes ago
A chance in quick form to give your recent impressions of a tv show you just watched--a series you love or just discovered. Good or bad; life-changing...more

SciFi and Fantasy Book Club — 714 members — last activity 24 minutes ago
August Book: The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Discussion Leader: Elizabeth

THEME SELECTION: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Docto...more

Paranormal Romance — 572 members — last activity 26 minutes ago
Welcome to Paranormal Romance! This group is for the discussion and recommendation of paranormal romances and paranormal romantica, along with simila...more

Romantic Suspense — 91 members — last activity 33 minutes ago
Do you enjoy reading books by Marliss Melton, Roxanne St. Claire, Cindy Gerard, Lucy Monroe, Christina Skye, Suzanne Brockman, Amy Fetzer, Beverly Bar...more

Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library — 745 members — last activity 2 hours, 6 min ago
All the good, important, and must-have books from SciFi and Fantasy... ageless, timeless, and without boundaries.

Add your books to the list, but m...more

see all of Tina's groups »

Tina's friend comments

showing 1-3 of 3. (add a comment | view all)

from Jeremy

01/23/2008 07:08PM

I want to apologize for the all the recommendations from me today. I wanted to share the Stoker Award news, and I only pressed the send button once--I'm not sure what happened.

Argh...this is terrible...

Again, I'm very sorry.

-Jeremy

flag abuse

from Jeremy

12/31/2007 06:24PM

Hi Tina!

Here’s wishing you a nifty New Year filled with noiseless noses, neato nicknames, noble Nebraskans, gnarly narcoleptic nebulas, and novel novels about nut-eating narwhals and novercaphobic gnats.

-Jeremy :)

P.S.—I’m currently offering autographed/personally-inscribed copies of my novel, Vacation, with free shipping for those in the US. If there’s anything you could do to help me spread the word about this, I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to click here for details:
http://hauntedhousedressing.co...

flag abuse

from Laura

12/14/2007 01:37PM

Hi, Tina--
I'm thrilled we are friends! I loved seeing your ratings on the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" novels you have read so far. I've just started them myself. Finished "Dark Lover" last night and posted my review of it this morning on Goodreads. Awesome series! Look forward to seeing your ratings on the paranormal romance novels you will be reading. Big fun! Happy reading and magickal blessings. :)

flag abuse

block this member *

Tina's friends (18)

	Izlinda 1791 books, 212 friends Friend details Through Goodreads
	Shannon 1076 books 170 friends
	Nick Queen 288 books 610 friends
	J-Lynn 1536 books 264 friends
	Ed 115 books 882 friends
	Spaceyplum 258 books 14 friends
	Rhapsody 1619 books 15 friends
	Victoria 838 books 282 friends
	Karen 92 books 23 friends
	Cheryl 359 books 14 friends
	Mary 277 books 1575 friends
	Joni 657 books 2 friends
	Jeremy 157 books 1507 friends
	The Discriminating Fangirl 354 books 242 friends
	Ellenjsmellen 815 books 2628 friends

see all 18 friends »

never-ending quiz

ranking:	10653 out of 65546
questions answered:	105
correct:	69 (65.7%)
best streak:	11
questions added:	0

take the quiz »